Speaker
Description
Large knowledge gaps persist in understanding how gaseous and particulate emissions from space activities (rocket launches, space debris demise during reentry) influence the middle atmosphere. The main concerns are their potential impacts on the ozone layer and on climate. Uncertainties span nearly all stages of the atmospheric lifecycle of these pollutants: their initial release, physicochemical transformations in launch and re-entry plumes, global transport and dispersion, and ultimately their chemical and radiative effects during transit through the atmosphere.
Addressing these gaps requires a multi-faceted approach. First, internationally coordinated efforts are needed to collect field data, preferably in situ, on launch and reentry plume composition, as well as on space activities pollutant levels in the background middle atmosphere. Second, laboratory experiments are essential to examine critical physicochemical processes, for example those occurring during re-entry demise. Third, plume, mesoscale, and global models must be refined to more accurately represent the complex microphysics and chemistry of these pollutants.
This talk will provide a brief overview of knowledge gaps and outline possible pathways to address them.
